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Delight
"You'll be charmed, captivated, and utterly enchanted," promised Romantic Times in their rave review of Jillian Hunter's exquisite Highland romance, Daring. Now, this magnificent storyteller once again embraces the frolicsome spirit of the Scottish countryside -- in a splendid tale of two hearts brimming over with Delight.
Douglas Moncrieff was once a notorious pirate, the Dragon of Darien. With a stroke of the king's pen, he is given a Scottish earldom...and a royal order to behave. Haunted by past sins, a heartless predator by habit, Douglas now faces the perilous road to reform.
Princess Rowena of Hartzburg, an innocent heiress in danger, has fled to the Highlands for a mysterious rendezvous with Douglas's respectable half-brother. When his brother fails to arrive, Douglas plans to hide his shameful past from Rowena and claim this lovely gem for himself.
But this princess has plans of her own. Not the helpless maiden Douglas expects, Rowena is a royal hellion who cannot wait to tame her dragon...In a secluded Highland castle, secrets are unveiled and desires unleashed as Douglas and Rowena join forces to fight a deadly enemy. Now the pirate who hoped to capture a princess discovers that her innocence -- and his heart -- are both at stake.
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 1998
3 people are currently reading
203 people want to read
About the author
Jillian Hunter
51 books429 followersJillian Hunter is the bestselling author of over twenty historical romances. She lives with her husband, three daughters, a pug and a poodle in Southern California. She loves anyone who can make her laugh, which means she is in love with Mike Myers and Tyler Perry.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 27, 2012
I took this book on vacation with me and got some very strange looks from the other passengers on the cruise ship when I kept bursting into hysterical laughter. It truly was delightful! The very concept of turning a group of cutthroat pirates bent on reforming themselves loose in a Scottish castle was priceless. I had read some complaints about the book not being "historical" enough, but the beauty of the romance genre is that there is room for a vast variety of stories and styles. I'll take the spark of magic I find in Jillian Hunter's writing over dry, emotionless research any day. And just because an author doesn't choose to indunate the reader with historical facts, it doesn't mean the facts she does include are in error. I only wish Errol Flynn and Olivia deHaviland were still around to star in the movie version of this one! The banter very much reminded me of something you'd find in one of their swashbuckling films and the scene in the church near the end brought a definite lump to my throat. Be true to your muse, Ms. Hunter, and continue to charm and delight us with your unique talent and voice!
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July 9, 2016DNF
SCREW FUNNY! I WANT INTENSE ROMANCE!
SCREW FUNNY! I WANT INTENSE ROMANCE!
February 7, 2019
Unfortunately giving up on this book. It’s just not holding my attention and I don’t care what happens anymore. However, there were so many laugh out loud funny parts in here. But that’s all the book had going for me.
One of my 2019 goals is to read all of Jillian Hunters work. I wanted to start in order but realized her first books are way harder to find. I did happen to have this one from a book sale.
The hero, Douglas, is trying desperately hide his pirate past from Princess Rowena, who desperately needs a pirate to save her kingdom.
There were a few things that pulled me out of the story. Point of view would change to other people in the story for a paragraph here or there, and it was rather confusing and annoying. There was no separation to indicate you would be in someone else’s head. Just weird.
I felt zero tension. The main characters were liekable but they were just two people together in a castle, I had no urge or wanting for them to desperately be together, which I need in a story. I read almost 300 pages and there wasn’t even a kiss. I ended right at the first sex scene (I assume) that’s how little I felt 😂😂 I was like, meh.
There is a murdering, thieving, raping enemy that believes he is the rightful heir to the castle. He’s tiresome and annoying and has black stumps for teeth.
Again I found serious humor in this book. I can’t deny it was worth reading the first half just to make me laugh.
Douglas’ crew of motley pirates turned pretend servants are hilarious trying to greet and take care of the princess.
Three stars for the humor!!
One of my 2019 goals is to read all of Jillian Hunters work. I wanted to start in order but realized her first books are way harder to find. I did happen to have this one from a book sale.
The hero, Douglas, is trying desperately hide his pirate past from Princess Rowena, who desperately needs a pirate to save her kingdom.
There were a few things that pulled me out of the story. Point of view would change to other people in the story for a paragraph here or there, and it was rather confusing and annoying. There was no separation to indicate you would be in someone else’s head. Just weird.
I felt zero tension. The main characters were liekable but they were just two people together in a castle, I had no urge or wanting for them to desperately be together, which I need in a story. I read almost 300 pages and there wasn’t even a kiss. I ended right at the first sex scene (I assume) that’s how little I felt 😂😂 I was like, meh.
There is a murdering, thieving, raping enemy that believes he is the rightful heir to the castle. He’s tiresome and annoying and has black stumps for teeth.
Again I found serious humor in this book. I can’t deny it was worth reading the first half just to make me laugh.
Douglas’ crew of motley pirates turned pretend servants are hilarious trying to greet and take care of the princess.
Three stars for the humor!!
October 27, 2023
This was a surprise. I’ve never laughed so much in a romance (and Suzanne Enoch does make me laugh quite a lot!) but Hunter has an excellent grasp of the absurd and can really set a scene with her minor characters and uses some funny dialogue.
I enjoyed picking this up and will definitely be reading more by her. The reason I didn’t give this one a higher rating was because I liked the style but the romance component wasn’t super strong. I liked the heroine and for the most part the hero was okay (but a really poor communicator and a bit emotionally stunted) but they’re development wasn’t deep and then they were in love. It just didn’t feel authentic and the hero’s competence was not fleshed out enough for me—everyone said he was fearsome but aside from one scene where he scares the vicar’s wife, I never saw it. Honestly I loved the minor cast humor but I wanted a little more tension and drama to balance the humorous antics.
That said, I was intrigued by the unique style and was in the mood for something different. The changing perspectives and short scenes took some getting used to but I liked it because it was so different. However, those who like laser focus on the leads would not like this. I found it created an ambiance and the short scenes were so funny I was okay with it.
I’m going to try this author’s famous series and see how it develops since this was an older work but I see potential here and I hope it works out because she has a lot of books :)
I enjoyed picking this up and will definitely be reading more by her. The reason I didn’t give this one a higher rating was because I liked the style but the romance component wasn’t super strong. I liked the heroine and for the most part the hero was okay (but a really poor communicator and a bit emotionally stunted) but they’re development wasn’t deep and then they were in love. It just didn’t feel authentic and the hero’s competence was not fleshed out enough for me—everyone said he was fearsome but aside from one scene where he scares the vicar’s wife, I never saw it. Honestly I loved the minor cast humor but I wanted a little more tension and drama to balance the humorous antics.
That said, I was intrigued by the unique style and was in the mood for something different. The changing perspectives and short scenes took some getting used to but I liked it because it was so different. However, those who like laser focus on the leads would not like this. I found it created an ambiance and the short scenes were so funny I was okay with it.
I’m going to try this author’s famous series and see how it develops since this was an older work but I see potential here and I hope it works out because she has a lot of books :)
April 23, 2024
Honestly, I liked this. It was better than some of the garbage I’ve been finding stored up in my Kindle app. Best well written book ever, no. Lighthearted funny read, yes.
Warning- there is premarital intercourse in this. It is a bit steamy for some probably. First scene of sex starts around page 263 in my copy of the book.
Good premise, execution could have been more polished for sure. The humor was right up my alley and I appreciated it in this story. The beginning/opening of this book was admittedly a bit confusing to follow. Some parts of the book it got muddled up with whose dialogue was being read. For me the story went on a bit too long also toward the last three quarters of the book.
Characters were tolerable and likable. Rowena had her moments idiocy, but I persevered.
I do wish the epilogue was better. Better in a way that updated us on all the characters, not just main ones. Are these side characters in any other of the authors books?
I have some other books by this author. I won’t chuck them onto eBay just yet and actually give them a chance.
Warning- there is premarital intercourse in this. It is a bit steamy for some probably. First scene of sex starts around page 263 in my copy of the book.
Good premise, execution could have been more polished for sure. The humor was right up my alley and I appreciated it in this story. The beginning/opening of this book was admittedly a bit confusing to follow. Some parts of the book it got muddled up with whose dialogue was being read. For me the story went on a bit too long also toward the last three quarters of the book.
Characters were tolerable and likable. Rowena had her moments idiocy, but I persevered.
I do wish the epilogue was better. Better in a way that updated us on all the characters, not just main ones. Are these side characters in any other of the authors books?
I have some other books by this author. I won’t chuck them onto eBay just yet and actually give them a chance.
September 3, 2016
Well, apart from some funny moments, there isn't much to write about with this book.
It went on and on in a repetitive cycle only for it all to be broken and the rest of the story being written in like 50 pages.
It went on and on in a repetitive cycle only for it all to be broken and the rest of the story being written in like 50 pages.
July 16, 2011
i read this book and couldn't stop laughing
May 3, 2012
this is a funny book.
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January 30, 2016Pirate and Highlander..what more could a girl want? What a great story. Funny. Sweet. Great side characters.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews